By Chris Kavan - 01/16/19 at 11:26 AM CT
After a somewhat disappointing post-holiday update, the MPAA Ratings Board kicks things up a slight notch with a decent list, even if there are only two big films to talk about. One is Disney updating yet another classic animated tale and transforming it into a live-action version and the other is a gender-swapped mind-reading comedy from the POV of a woman instead of a man. It at least gives me something to talk about, and the more updates the better, but, as always, I hope next week hits one out of the park rather than delivering a single.
Disney has made a nice cottage industry out of updating their animated library and transforming it into new live-action versions. They're going to run out of fuel eventually, but not anytime soon. The latest offering is going to be Dumbo, though it looks like they are going to tweak the plot a bit to make the humans more interesting (and also probably removing the racist crows). That is good, as the human element looks fantastic with Colin Farrell, Danny DeVito, Eva Green, Alan Arkin, Michael Keaton, Nico Parker and Joseph Gatt lend their talents to the tale. The story isn't all new - it still follows a young elephant with oversized ears who is at first the laughingstock of a travelling circus, is separated from his mother and then discovers a great talent that saves the struggling troupe, even as unscrupulous individuals look to exploit this gift. The trailers make this looks like one of the better offerings with plenty of emotion and a fantastic look. Disney isn't batting 100% with their live-action remakes, but they are certainly above average and Dumbo (and certainly the upcoming Lion King) should help the cause. We'll see how many more of these they can (re)make, but as long as the quality remains good, I'm willing to give them a fighting chance. Rated PG for peril/action, some thematic elements and brief mild language.
I guess if you're going to jump on the gender-swapping band wagon, it's a good idea to pick a movie that will probably benefit. Looking back, Mel Gibson's What Women Want is a bit sexist - especially when you consider the times. But Taraji P. Henson is about to flip that script with What Men Want and if 80% of this movie isn't just "sex, food, useless pop culture junk, alcohol, bros and sports" I will call bull crap. Whereas Gibson's film was about an ad executive, this time around Henson's Ali Davis is a sports agent, and finds herself constantly losing to her male competitors - that is until she gains the all-important gift to read the minds of men. Don't worry - this has an R rating, so I expect things to get pretty down and dirty - while still being funny. Henson is joined by the likes of Max Greenfield, Wendi McLendon-Covey, Kellan Lutz, Josh Brener, Tracy Morgan, Erykah Badu, Aldis Hodge, Shaquille O'Neal, Richard Roundtree and Pete Davidson. Quite an assortment of talent here, so I'm expecting it do do decently. Rated R for language and sexual content
throughout, and some drug material.
Those may be the biggest films coming out this week, but there are plenty more to check out in the full MPAA Ratings Bulletin below:
AMERICAN EXIT
Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, violence and brief strong language.
THE BIGGEST LITTLE FARM
Rated PG for mild thematic elements and brief language.
DONNYBROOK
Rated R for disturbing violent and sexual content, drug use, language, and some graphic nudity.
DUMBO
Rated PG for peril/action, some thematic elements and brief mild language.
HIGH LIFE
Rated R for disturbing sexual and violent content including sexual assault, graphic nudity, and for language.
THE IRON ORCHARD
Rated R for language and some sexual content.
MOTHERLESS BROOKLYN
Rated R for language throughout including some sexual references, brief drug use and violence.
SWAN PRINCESS: KINGDOM OF MUSIC
Rated G
WHAT A LION
Rated PG-13 for some language.
WHAT LIES AHEAD
Rated R for language throughout including sexual references, and some violence.
WHAT MEN WANT
Rated R for language and sexual content throughout, and some drug material.
WONDERS OF THE SEA 3D
Rated G
